Many people work in all kinds of dangerous jobs where they risk being harmed each day. Even those who work in relatively safe conditions could still experience an injury that prevents them from working.
If you were injured on the job, you could learn more about your legal options by consulting a Lima workers’ compensation lawyer. An experienced personal injury attorney may be able to help you avoid unnecessary stress and missed legal opportunities.
Workers’ Compensation and the Right to Sue
Before laws that protected injured workers existed, the only option a hurt employee had for pursuing financial relief was to sue their employer in court. Now, employees can seek workers’ compensation when they are injured during the course of their employment without having to file a formal lawsuit.
Workers are not required to show fault in most workers’ compensation cases. In fact, even if the injured employee is at fault for their injury, they could still receive workers’ compensation benefits.
Injured Employee Claim Process in Lima
Nearly every employee in Ohio is covered by one of the workers’ compensation policies overseen by the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC). When employees are covered by one of these policies, they give up their right to sue their employer for compensation.
If they become injured or ill on the job, workers seeking compensation must submit a report to their employer and the BWC. In Ohio, employees have one year from the date of the incident to file their claim.
Once a report is submitted, the BWC might request more information related to the injury such as medical records. Either way, the BWC would likely respond to the claim within 28 days of filing. If the claim is denied, workers may appeal the decision within 14 days.
Under limited circumstances, an employee may not be covered under a policy. If an employee is not covered, they could potentially sue in court to get additional compensation. A skilled Lima workers’ compensation attorney could help an injured worker file with the BWC and guide them through this complex legal process.
Workers’ Compensation Coverage
Workers’ compensation could cover medical costs for doctor appointments and treatment, as well as lost wages as long as the employee misses seven or more day on the job. Furthermore, there are three specific categories of disability that workers’ comp may account for.
Each type of disability has separate rules for recovery, and designated disabilities may be reviewed and changed by the BWC. A workers’ compensation lawyer in Lima could offer further clarification about what particular types of benefits an individual worker may be eligible to receive. First, permanent partial disability is when the worker is still able to work, but the injury affects their ability to function. Workers may seek compensation based on a percentage of their wage for a certain number of weeks.
Second, temporary total disability is when an injury renders the employee unable to work for a finite amount of time. The final category is permanent total disability, which is when an injury disables an employee permanently from holding a paying job, such as amputation or loss of eyesight.
How a Lima Workers’ Compensation Attorney Could Help
Being injured on the job can be a serious hassle. Aside from the physical and mental pain, you might also be facing financial pressures out of work.
During this challenging time, it may be in your best interest to consult with a Lima workers’ compensation lawyer who could help review your situation and discover ways you could move forward. Call today to get started on your case.